SUN COUNTRY HEALTH REGION TO OPEN NEW TELEHEALTH SITE

Patients in Sun Country Health Region will have even greater access to specialized medical services. Saskatchewan's Telehealth network is expanding into Estevan and seven other locations across the province, using health funding committed at the 2004 First Ministers' Meeting.

The other locations approved by Saskatchewan Health are Saskatoon (City Hospital), Regina (Pasqua Hospital), Humboldt, Melfort, Lloydminster, Tisdale and Melville. The expansion will cost about $400,000, and will bring the total number of Telehealth sites in the province to 26.

Telehealth Saskatchewan uses videoconference links across its provincial network to connect patients with specialists, saving time and travel expenses. It is also used to deliver continuing medical education to doctors and nurses in rural and remote locations. Telehealth can also reduce the sense of isolation often felt by rural health providers or medical residents, by connecting them with their colleagues in urban centres for patient consultations.

"The expansion supports the vision first outlined in The Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care to improve the quality of services and access to care for all residents, no matter where they live," Health Minister John Nilson said. "We are committed to working with our health partners to reduce the geographical barriers some residents face, and make it easier for them to access specialized services."

With the expansion, the province will achieve its goal of establishing Telehealth services in every provincial, regional, district and northern hospital.

"Telehealth services are an important component of health care in rural areas," Sun Country Health Region CEO Lee Spencer said. "They provide easy access to assessment and diagnostic services that our patients would otherwise have to travel great distances to receive. Our staff also benefits from the educational opportunities Telehealth provides."

Each of the new Telehealth sites will receive $50,000 worth of videoconferencing equipment that allows clinical appointments to be completed over great distances. The new sites are expected to begin operating in late spring and early summer.

Telehealth began in 1999 as a pilot project in northern Saskatchewan. It now serves about 4,000 Saskatchewan residents and health care providers every year. Patients can book appointments for surgical follow-up, or consultations in areas such as child psychiatry, dermatology or pediatric general surgery.

To find out more about Telehealth, visit: www.health.gov.sk.ca/ps_telehealth.html

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For More Information, Contact:

Eric Brown Sun Country Health Region Weyburn Phone: (306) 842-8353